Coast Guard rescues 4 after missing for 2 days

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas – The Coast Guard rescued four fishermen, Monday, who had been missing since Friday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Station South Padre Island received a call, Saturday, from Rescue Command Center Mexico requesting assistance with a search involving a 25-foot fishing vessel with four men aboard that had departed Playa Bagdad, Mexico, Thursday, and was due back at 7 a.m., Friday.

Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi launched an HU-25 Falcon fixed-wing aircraft and crew, which conducted searches on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crew were launched and soon discovered an abandoned vessel on the beach near Port Mansfield Channel matching the description of the missing lancha.

Monday, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crew from Air Station Corpus Christi were conducting a patrol and noticed four men waving from the beach, 11 miles south of where the abandoned vessel was discovered the previous day. The helicopter lowered the rescue swimmer who determined the four individuals were Mexican nationals.

The men were taken to Coast Guard Station South Padre Island where it was confirmed that they were the individuals missing since Friday. EMS were called and determined the men had no injuries or medical issues.

Customs and Border Protection was also notified and will be conducting an investigation.

For more information on this Coast Guard rescue contact Lt. Heidi Miller at (361) 438-0176.

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